Overview

The Senior Budget Analyst administers and monitors multiple complex budgets on a Citywide basis, makes specialized recommendations based on financial research, analysis, and evaluation for effective control on expenditures while ensuring available funds. Participates and makes recommendations on advanced projects.

Essential Functions

1. Prepares and coordinates the City Manager's recommended operating, capital, grants, trusts, and debt service budgets to ensure effective oversight and financial management; reviews and revises budget submissions, provides expert recommendations, and analyzes budget documents to reflect accurate expenditures, operating costs, and revenues across multiple funds and departments.

2. Monitors, analyzes, and forecasts expenditures, revenues, cash balances, and changes in financial status in complex funds and budgets on a Citywide basis to ensure proper accountability and financial management; regularly serves in a departmental budget capacity in addition to central budget office duties to maintain financial standards.

3. Communicates budget policies and procedures to department directors, managers, analysts, and other finance and budget staff; develops and leads departmental training on critical budget functions.

4. Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual reports such as cost analysis, performance data, forecasting, and expenditure and revenue status reports for City management, elected officials, and the public to provide appropriate monitoring for effective decision making; reviews and edits departmental budgetary reports.

5. Provides non-routine reports and responds to advanced special requests for reports on financial and organizational information including complex statistical forecasting models, trend analysis, impact studies, financial projection methods, issue papers, briefing materials, and bond rating notebooks to provide information to senior executive City management.

6. Directs City departments to communicate with managers, auditors, and service providers to obtain or provide information, integrate activities, and resolve problems such as reconciling department submissions with approved budgets.

7. Reviews, edits, and approves council agenda items and contracts and verifies proper format and procedures, verifies accuracy in financial and budgetary information, ensures the availability of funds, resolves problems with client departments, and provides Citywide training.

8. Attends City Council, Neighborhood Public Hearing, and Town Hall meetings to provide staff assistance, takes notes and records unanswered Council or resident questions, serves as budget representative, and takes necessary action regarding decisions or inquiries made at such hearings.

9. Performs other work as needed or assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of automated accounting programs and ability to use spreadsheets and other programs.

Knowledge of financial, accounting, and budgeting principles and practices.

Ability to analyze complex policy, financial, and organizational issues.

Knowledge of City policies and procedures.

Ability to research financial metrics, forecast future requirements, analyze budget, and make recommendations.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

Work Experience

Four (4) years of professional experience working with budget analysis, forecasting, accounting, or other finance-based experience.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in business management, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field.

Licenses:

Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Certification (Preferred)

Certified Public Finance Officers (CPFO) (Preferred)

Equivalency:

A Master's degree plus two (2) years of experience will meet the education and experience requirement.